Search: 8994

Skip to main content

Go to accessibility options

Auction 1204 | Lot 5837 » Double Eagles » Liberty Double Eagles
1881 $20 MS61 PCGS. (PCGS# 8994)
Bid Source: Live: Floor

Featured

Service PCGS

Grade MS61

Auction Ended
Live Bid Now

Apr 27, 2014

Auction Archives
Sold For: $152,750.00
Auction 1223 | Lot 4490 » Double Eagles » Liberty Double Eagles
1881 $20 MS61 NGC. (PCGS# 8994)
Bid Source: Mail/Fax

Featured 360 Degree View

Service NGC

Grade MS61

Auction Ended
Live Bid Now

Aug 12, 2015

Auction Archives
Sold For: $141,000.00
Auction 1216 | Lot 4389 » Double Eagles » Liberty Double Eagles
1881 $20 MS61 PCGS. (PCGS# 8994)
Bid Source: Live: Floor

Featured

Service PCGS

Grade MS61

Auction Ended
Live Bid Now

Jan 12, 2015

Auction Archives
Sold For: $141,000.00
Auction 422 | Lot 3203 » Double Eagles » Liberty Double Eagles
1881 $20 MS61 PCGS. The 1881 double eagle commences what David Akers refers to as a "run of seven ultra low mintage issues from the Philadelphia Mint." Business strike production of a mere 2,199 pieces provides the first ingredient for rarity and the fact that few were spared from the ravages of commerce secures its place among the most challenging Liberty twenties. Of the 35-40 pieces believed to survive, only a small handful qualifies as Mint State. Although Heritage Signature Auctions have long been a prime source of rare date gold, nearly six years lapsed between the only other two Uncirculated we have offered, a PCGS MS60 in our 1998 ANA Sale (which may now reside in an MS61 holder since the current combined MS60 population is zero) and a PCGS MS61 selling in our June 2004 Long Beach Sale for $57,500.

This important Uncirculated representative is a bit more reflective than the other two Mint State pieces sold over the past decade, not surprising since so few 1881 twenties were originally produced. Abrasions are fairly plentiful in the obverse fields, but are not particularly bothersome on the portrait and are a bit less numerous and even distributed over the reverse. With interest in "blue chip" gold coins such as this at an all-time high, we feel confident that this low mintage gold rarity in unsurpassable condition could reach a record price level. Population: 2 in 61, 0 finer (11/06).
From The Kutasi Collection. (PCGS# 8994)
Bid Source: Internet

Featured

Service PCGS

Grade MS61

Auction Ended
Live Bid Now

Jan 6, 2007

Auction Archives
Sold For: $138,000.00
Auction 1117 | Lot 3091 » Double Eagles » Liberty Double Eagles
1881 $20 MS61 PCGS. (PCGS# 8994)
Bid Source: Internet

Featured

Service PCGS

Grade MS61

Auction Ended
Live Bid Now

Oct 25, 2008

Auction Archives
Sold For: $138,000.00
Auction 1318 | Lot 4047 » Double Eagles » Liberty Double Eagles
1881 $20 MS62 NGC. (PCGS# 8994)
Bid Source: Internet

Featured Video Description 360 Degree View

Service NGC

Grade MS62

Auction Ended
Live Bid Now

Aug 9, 2020

Auction Archives
Sold For: $138,000.00
Auction 1331 | Lot 3216 » Double Eagles » Liberty Double Eagles
1881 $20 AU58 PCGS. (PCGS# 8994)
Bid Source: HA.com/Live

Featured 360 Degree View

Service PCGS

Grade AU58

Auction Ended
Live Bid Now

Jun 20, 2021

Auction Archives
Sold For: $114,000.00
Auction 1201 | Lot 5550 » Double Eagles » Liberty Double Eagles
1881 $20 AU58 PCGS. (PCGS# 8994)
Bid Source: Live: Floor

Featured

Service PCGS

Grade AU58

Auction Ended
Live Bid Now

Jan 12, 2014

Auction Archives
Sold For: $111,625.00
Auction 1359 | Lot 3305 » Double Eagles » Liberty Double Eagles
1881 $20 AU58 NGC. (PCGS# 8994)
Bid Source: HA.com/Live

Featured 360 Degree View

Service NGC

Grade AU58

Auction Ended
Live Bid Now

May 7, 2023

Auction Archives
Sold For: $105,000.00
Auction 1258 | Lot 4206 » Double Eagles » Liberty Double Eagles
1881 $20 MS60 PCGS Secure. (PCGS# 8994)
Bid Source: HA.com/Live

Featured

Service PCGS

Grade MS60

Auction Ended
Live Bid Now

Aug 6, 2017

Auction Archives
Sold For: $99,875.00
Auction 1381 | Lot 3487 » Double Eagles » Liberty Double Eagles
1881 $20 MS61 PCGS. (PCGS# 8994)
Featured Video Description 360 Degree View

Service PCGS

Grade MS61

Auction Ended
Live Bid Now

Mar 2, 2025

Auction Archives
Sold For: $99,000.00
Auction 1380 | Lot 4896 » Double Eagles » Liberty Double Eagles
1881 $20 MS60 NGC. (PCGS# 8994)
Featured 360 Degree View

Service NGC

Grade MS60

Auction Ended
Live Bid Now

Jan 19, 2025

Auction Archives
Sold For: $96,000.00
Auction 1311 | Lot 4535 » Double Eagles » Liberty Double Eagles
1881 $20 AU58 PCGS. (PCGS# 8994)
Bid Source: Internet

Featured Video Description 360 Degree View

Service PCGS

Grade AU58

Auction Ended
Live Bid Now

Jan 12, 2020

Auction Archives
Sold For: $84,000.00
Auction 1380 | Lot 4895 » Double Eagles » Liberty Double Eagles
1881 $20 AU58 NGC. (PCGS# 8994)
Featured Video Description 360 Degree View

Service NGC

Grade AU58

Auction Ended
Live Bid Now

Jan 19, 2025

Auction Archives
Sold For: $84,000.00
Auction 1244 | Lot 14189 » Double Eagles » Liberty Double Eagles
1881 $20 AU58 NGC. (PCGS# 8994)
Bid Source: Internet

Featured

Service NGC

Grade AU58

Auction Ended
Live Bid Now

Sep 9, 2016

Auction Archives
Sold For: $82,289.95
Auction 132104 | Lot 27915 » Double Eagles » Liberty Double Eagles
1881 $20 AU58 PCGS. The 1881 Philadelphia Mint production of double eagles consisted of only 2,199 coins. PCGS CoinFacts estimates the surviving population at just 40-60 examples in all grades. This was the beginning of several years of low-mintage production of double eagles in Philadelphia, through 1887, with the other Mint locations producing far larger quantities.

The present coin is pedigreed to Harry Bass's famed collection. His had one of the most extensive collections of gold coins ever amassed when he died in 1998. 19th century gold coins were an early love. Bass was known as an astute collector, carefully studying and learning, becoming an expert. He built one of the finest collections of numismatic books and auction catalogs as part of his quest to acquire as much knowledge as possible.

This Choice AU example was the sole 1881 double eagle among the coins sold from his collection in 1999 and 2000. As stated in the lot description of the Bowers and Merena catalog after discussing the rarity of these pieces, "Perhaps lending further radiance to the desirability of the present piece it is a fact that Harry Bass was never able to obtain a Proof of this date in a quality which pleased him."

Gleaming yellow-gold surfaces provide this example with a pleasing appearance. As expected at this grade level, scattered marks are present, including a few on Liberty's cheek. The strongly impressed design elements show just a trace of wear. PCGS and NGC combined have awarded the AU58 grade to 15 examples, with only 10 pieces earning higher grades (1/21).
Ex: Purchased from Frank Sternberg, Zurich (11/1967); Harry W. Bass, Jr. Collection, Part II (Bowers and Merena, 10/1999), lot 1879; FUN Signature (Heritage, 1/2014), lot 5549; FUN Signature (Heritage, 1/2020), lot 4535. (PCGS# 8994)
Bid Source: Mail/Fax

360 Degree View

Service PCGS

Grade AU58

Auction Ended
Live Bid Now

Jan 27, 2021

Auction Archives
Sold For: $75,000.00
Auction 1356 | Lot 3904 » Double Eagles » Liberty Double Eagles
1881 $20 AU55 NGC. (PCGS# 8994)
Bid Source: Internet

Featured Video Description 360 Degree View

Service NGC

Grade AU55

Auction Ended
Live Bid Now

Jan 12, 2023

Auction Archives
Sold For: $63,000.00
Auction 1208 | Lot 5726 » Double Eagles » Liberty Double Eagles
1881 $20 AU55 NGC. (PCGS# 8994)
Bid Source: Internet

Featured 360 Degree View

Service NGC

Grade AU55

Auction Ended
Live Bid Now

Aug 9, 2014

Auction Archives
Sold For: $61,725.10
Auction 1201 | Lot 5549 » Double Eagles » Liberty Double Eagles
1881 $20 AU55 PCGS. (PCGS# 8994)
Bid Source: Live: Floor

Featured

Service PCGS

Grade AU55

Auction Ended
Live Bid Now

Jan 12, 2014

Auction Archives
Sold For: $61,687.50
Auction 1278 | Lot 5320 » Double Eagles » Liberty Double Eagles
1881 $20 AU55 PCGS. (PCGS# 8994)
Bid Source: Internet

Featured

Service PCGS

Grade AU55

Auction Ended
Live Bid Now

Aug 16, 2018

Auction Archives
Sold For: $57,600.00
Auction 349 | Lot 6363 » Double Eagles » Liberty Double Eagles
1881 $20 MS61 PCGS. Only 2,220 circulation strike 1881 double eagles were produced. Approximately 25-35 pieces are known today with most of these grading XF40 to AU50. In the middle to higher AU grades, the 1881 is extremely rare and the only pieces to have been encapsulated as Uncirculated (as of March 2004) are the PCGS MS60 that we auctioned for $29,235 in our 1997 ANA Sale and this specimen, the finest known to either service.

Recent sales records include an example cataloged as "Brilliant Uncirculated" in the October 2001 Dallas Bank Collection Sale which brought $21,850, a PCGS AU50 that realized $14,950 in our February 2001 Long Beach Sale, and a PCGS AU55 that garnered $14,950 in the October 1999 Bass II Sale. Considering the unquestioned rarity of this issue (and the great popularity of this series), it remains extremely undervalued in our opinion.

The surfaces of this piece are unquestionably original with a bit of the "dirty gold" appearance seen on so many Double Eagles from this era. Probably struck from a later state of the dies, there is little evidence of the original prooflike finish in the fields--a trait seen on all Twenties of this issue to one degree or another. Well struck, numerous small and medium sized contact marks litter the surfaces, these being the grade-limiting factors. A very special opportunity for the advanced U.S. gold enthusiast. (PCGS# 8994)
Bid Source: Live: Floor

Featured

Service PCGS

Grade MS61

Auction Ended
Live Bid Now

Jun 5, 2004

Auction Archives
Sold For: $57,500.00
Auction 1223 | Lot 4489 » Double Eagles » Liberty Double Eagles
1881 $20 AU58 NGC. (PCGS# 8994)
Bid Source: Internet

Featured

Service NGC

Grade AU58

Auction Ended
Live Bid Now

Aug 12, 2015

Auction Archives
Sold For: $56,400.00
Auction 1382 | Lot 3147 » Double Eagles » Liberty Double Eagles
1881 $20 AU53 PCGS. (PCGS# 8994)
Featured 360 Degree View

Service PCGS

Grade AU53

Auction Ended
Live Bid Now

Apr 6, 2025

Auction Archives
Sold For: $56,400.00

Make Offer to Owner
$84,600 or more
Auction 1292 | Lot 3921 » Double Eagles » Liberty Double Eagles
1881 $20 AU55 PCGS Gold Shield. (PCGS# 8994)
Bid Source: Internet

Featured

Service PCGS

Grade AU55

Auction Ended
Live Bid Now

Jan 31, 2019

Auction Archives
Sold For: $54,000.00
Auction 1271 | Lot 5135 » Double Eagles » Liberty Double Eagles
1881 $20 AU53 PCGS. (PCGS# 8994)
Bid Source: Internet

Service PCGS

Grade AU53

Auction Ended
Live Bid Now

Jan 8, 2018

Auction Archives
Sold For: $43,200.00

1

2 3

Results per page: 10 25 50